DOWNTOWN SCHOOLS | Jackson, TN
Improving the neighborhood. Improving schools. Improving lives.
As developers, we are conscious of the fabric and character of a neighborhood. We look for what’s missing, what resources are needed. And we ask ourselves, what can we do to make it better? In Jackson, given the presence of UofM/Lambuth, we saw an opportunity. We set out to do what hasn’t been done before—incorporating improvements to area schools into a downtown development. We are working with the city on these two projects through a unique public-private partnership that includes the University of Memphis/Lambuth, the Community Redevelopment Agency and the Jackson/Madison County School System.
- MAM. The Madison Academic Magnet High School (MAM) will move into a new 3-story building under construction at the entrance to the UofM Lambuth Campus. Modelled after the campus school concept at UofM Memphis, MAM will offer Honors, AP and dual-enrollment classes for credit at the university. And fully 40% of places—150 of the 600 students—will be reserved for neighborhood residents. The project is a natural extension of Heathy Community. And we believe the redevelopment will attract area residents, engage the university more fully in the Lambuth community and expand opportunities as the program becomes a feeder for the UofM.
- JCM. We’ve also undertaken a major renovation of the historic Jackson Central Merry High School (JCM) in East Jackson, the city’s first desegregated school. The project includes a new Fieldhouse. Simultaneously, the curriculum is being enhanced to include a high school diploma and nationally-recognized skills credentials and/or an Associate in Arts (AA) degree, part of a targeted curricula to help students prepare for a career that lifts them out of poverty.